Task #1 What do you understand by affective language learning?
Task #1 What do you understand by affective language learning?
What are some ways that you can foster it next week?
First of all, I have to say that I loved the video and that I was really glad to see that, intuitively, I already show my students that I care in so many ways. The video was also inspiring. Thank you Juan.
Though I am a very affectionate person and it reflects on my teaching and on the relationship I build with my students, I know that affective learning is not about hugging, kissing and letting students do whatever they want. As I understand, affective learning is related to seeing students as unique individuals. Even when we teach a large group, we should manage to build strategies to reach individual needs, showing them that we really care.
When we are teachers, we do not only teach a subject. There is so more involved. Things such as values, for example. A teacher can play a very important role in a students' life. A teacher can inspire! When we teach a language, there is even much more involved. Languages relate directly to feelings and emotions.
For me, one of the magic words that appeared on the video is: Phantasize. I have a student who is seven years old and has many difficulties to socialize and to engage in the learning process. The other day, when I entered the classroom, he was there, alone, with eyes closed. I asked him why his eyes were closed and he said that when he closes his eyes, he travels to his planet. I told him I wanted to close my eyes and travel to his planet, too. He told me that I couldn't because his planet was sad and ugly... So much was said in that sentence. I held his hand, asked him to close his eyes again so that I could take him to my planet because mine was beautiful and happy. From this day on, his behavior in class has changed. I also impersonate other teachers with different names and personalities. Teacher Naira, for example is more serious than teacher Núria, so sometimes I have to call "her". I also have a magic box in which I have some invisible powder that contains: English, discipline and everything they need. If a student is misbehaving, for example, he or she needs the discipline invisible powder. We phantasize together and the results are amazing.
I loved the idea of having a plant in the classrom and letting students take care of it. I will do that!
Looking forward to our session tomorrow!
What are some ways that you can foster it next week?
First of all, I have to say that I loved the video and that I was really glad to see that, intuitively, I already show my students that I care in so many ways. The video was also inspiring. Thank you Juan.
Though I am a very affectionate person and it reflects on my teaching and on the relationship I build with my students, I know that affective learning is not about hugging, kissing and letting students do whatever they want. As I understand, affective learning is related to seeing students as unique individuals. Even when we teach a large group, we should manage to build strategies to reach individual needs, showing them that we really care.
When we are teachers, we do not only teach a subject. There is so more involved. Things such as values, for example. A teacher can play a very important role in a students' life. A teacher can inspire! When we teach a language, there is even much more involved. Languages relate directly to feelings and emotions.
For me, one of the magic words that appeared on the video is: Phantasize. I have a student who is seven years old and has many difficulties to socialize and to engage in the learning process. The other day, when I entered the classroom, he was there, alone, with eyes closed. I asked him why his eyes were closed and he said that when he closes his eyes, he travels to his planet. I told him I wanted to close my eyes and travel to his planet, too. He told me that I couldn't because his planet was sad and ugly... So much was said in that sentence. I held his hand, asked him to close his eyes again so that I could take him to my planet because mine was beautiful and happy. From this day on, his behavior in class has changed. I also impersonate other teachers with different names and personalities. Teacher Naira, for example is more serious than teacher Núria, so sometimes I have to call "her". I also have a magic box in which I have some invisible powder that contains: English, discipline and everything they need. If a student is misbehaving, for example, he or she needs the discipline invisible powder. We phantasize together and the results are amazing.
I loved the idea of having a plant in the classrom and letting students take care of it. I will do that!
Looking forward to our session tomorrow!
Hi Núria!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome. Glad that you have enjoyed the video, your feedback energizes me to continue sharing.
Affective learning has to do with caring, sharing, and empowering. Caring about the person, giving learners the language they need to express themselves, and making them confident that they are progressing.
What a beautiful connecting experience you have had with this child. We need to be able to balance our individual and group attention to build rapport with learners.
Our students certainly enjoy your crazy ideas and these moments make learning enjoyable and memorable. I bet it relaxes them and makes them more willingly to play with the language.
Yes, teachers inspire!
Hugs to you from Buddy and me
Thank you for your lovely reply. Once the connection with a kid is established, everything is possible. I got the keys to enter that student's world and that is a huge responsability. From that day on, he "obeys" me not because he is forced to, but because he doesn't want to disappoint me. Another great experience I wanted to share with is concerned again to students with special needs. I had to adapt some tests to some students who have different kinds of needs.What I did was to personalize each test. For example. I have a student who is 9 years old, she is in second grade and she has development problems and delays. She can't speak or write well and the only things she knows in English is the color purple, because she loves purple, the word princess and some animals. I created a test for her in which she was the princess and the only color she had to recognize and use was purple. Not only was she able to do the test, but she was also happy to do it. Results like this motivate each day more. I am happy to share my beliefs here with you!
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